02 Running · Road running
Roadrunning.
An almost flat valley floor and thin air: many athletes come to Livigno for altitude training. We help you choose the Asics or Saucony road shoe for your kilometres.
i In short
Sport Extreme, at Via Prestefan 14 in Livigno, sells road running shoes from Asics and Saucony. Its advisors help you choose cushioning, drop and support based on your mileage, pace and how your foot lands, for everyday training or for racing.
A The kit, piece by piece
What matters,
piece by piece.
Scroll: for every piece of kit we tell you what to look for in this sport, and which brands you'll find in store.
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Cap
Light and perforated: at altitude the sun burns even early in the morning, and in the rain the peak keeps water out of your eyes.
Singlet
Light, perforated synthetic fabric that dries as you run. Flat seams under the arms, so nothing rubs on long runs.
Shorts
Side splits leave your stride free; a small waist pocket holds a key and gels. The inner brief prevents chafing.
GPS watch
On the road it shows your pace, kilometre by kilometre, and your heart rate, so you don't run your easy days too hard. At 1,816 m your pace drops: go by effort, not by seconds.
Socks
Low-cut and synthetic, with a shaped heel that doesn't slip in the shoe. No seams over the toes, so you can run long without blisters.
Road shoes
A thick foam midsole and a slightly curved sole, the rocker, that rolls your stride from heel to toe. Underneath, smooth rubber made for tarmac: it slips in mud.
Brands: Asics · Saucony
All of this,
at Via Prestefan 14.
Come and try it on: we put together the right kit for you, piece by piece.
Call the shop→B Summer
How to choose
- Cushioning and stackA high, soft sole for long runs; a lower, firmer one for feel on fast runs.
Stack is the height of the sole under your foot. A high, soft sole protects your legs on long runs and in high-mileage weeks; a lower, firmer one gives more feel on fast runs. The higher the stack, the more stability matters.
- Neutral or stabilityNeutral for a free stride; stability if your foot rolls well inwards on landing.
A neutral shoe lets your foot move its own way. A stability shoe has a firmer midsole on the inner side, for runners whose foot rolls well inwards on landing: overpronation. Asics and Saucony make both, and you choose by trying them.
- Training or racingDurable for everyday kilometres; light, often carbon-plated, for race day.
Everyday training calls for a durable shoe that can take a lot of kilometres. Race shoes are lighter and often have a carbon plate in the midsole: they pay off at fast paces, but wear out sooner.
- How many kilometresReplace them when the midsole is flat, the rubber worn or new aches appear.
A road shoe usually lasts between 500 and 800 km, depending on your weight, stride and the model. When the midsole feels flat, the rubber is worn through or new aches appear, it's time to replace it.
D In Livigno
Where to run on the road
The paved valley-floor path runs through Livigno from north to south for more than 10 km, most of it with a lane reserved for people on foot, and climbs only 150 m from Aquagranda to Alpe Campaccio. Aquagranda also has a six-lane athletics track, sheltered from the wind by a green wall. At 1,816 m there's less oxygen in the air: for the first few days, run slower than usual.
E Quick advice
Where are you at?
Our advice
F In store
Tell us how much you run
We ask how many kilometres you run, at what pace and on what surface, then let you try several Asics and Saucony models, neutral and stability. The advice is for your feet and your stride, whatever the model. And in Livigno's duty-free zone, there's no VAT.
G Frequently asked questions
Good to
know.
How often should I replace my running shoes?
A road running shoe usually lasts between 500 and 800 km. It depends on your weight, stride, the model and where you run. The signs are a flattened or deeply creased midsole, rubber worn down to the foam, and new aches in your knees or tendons.
Neutral or stability running shoes?
It depends on how your foot lands and how you feel when you run. A neutral shoe suits many runners; a stability shoe has a firmer midsole on the inner side, for runners whose foot rolls well inwards on landing. The simplest way to find out is to try both and run a few steps.
Are carbon-plated shoes good for training?
Carbon-plated shoes are designed for racing and fast sessions: they're light and responsive, but stiffer and less durable. For everyday training, a cushioned, durable shoe is the better choice, keeping the race shoe for tempo work and race day.
Where can I run on the road in Livigno?
In Livigno most road running happens on the paved valley-floor path, which runs through town from north to south for more than 10 km, most of it with a lane reserved for pedestrians. Aquagranda has a six-lane athletics track. At 1,816 m your pace drops for the first few days: run by feel and drink more than usual.
Come and
see us.
Every day 09:00–12:30 · 14:00–19:30
Via Prestefan 14 · 23041 Livigno · 1.816 m